JOHNSON TARGETS PROMOTION

BarnetFC.com and @Barnet_Bee caught up with Elliot Johnson after he returned for pre-season training.

The 2012/13 season saw the youngster cement his place in the first-team and he is looking to continue his development at The Hive.

Keep reading for the full interview….

So Elliot here we are back at The Hive for the start of pre-season, how are you feeling?

@EJohnson94: “We have only been back a few days but our fitness is improving and it is great to be back at The Hive. The atmosphere in the dressing room is great and it is like we never left. We are all looking forward to the start of the season.”

A few players have left since the end of last season but we have kept the majority of the squad together, have you been surprised by this?

@EJohnson94: “Maybe a little, there were a few players who I thought may move on due to relegation but it is great to have those players back and I am sure they will play a big part this season. A few players have left who will be missed in the dressing room but we are a solid group and I believe we can pick up our form from the latter stages of last season and make a great start to the campaign.”

You established yourself in the first-team last season and although there were a few rumours regarding your future you are here to stay and must be hoping for more of the same?

@EJohnson94: “From a personal point of few I signed a long term contact with the club so I wasn’t planning on leaving. I am looking forward to playing more games next season and hopefully we can get promoted. That said every player has to prove himself all over again in pre-season so hopefully I impress and the manager picks me for the start of the season.”

Is it quite a statement from Barnet that Edgar Davids is staying with the club?

@EJohnson94: “I think it is great that he is staying. He is an important part of the team and I think he is a good manager, with him we will be even better this season. As soon as we came in yesterday everybody was intent on winning promotion. We are not even thinking about staying in the division.”

Did it take a while for you to get over the disappointment of falling out of the Football League?

@EJohnson94: “Of course, you constantly replay games you should have won but that is done now and we need to be fully focussed on getting back into the Football League.”

Luke Gambin is another youngster who broke through last year, will the drop down give even more Academy players the opportunity to shine?

@EJohnson94: “I don’t see why not. I think the youth-team has been great in the past couple of years and I think you will see more and more players emerging into the first-team. If they prove themselves then they will play, you saw that last season with young players.

The first game of pre-season is now under two-weeks away, you must be excited to get back playing and also play at our brand new stadium, The Hive?

@EJohnson94: “Definitely, you have around six or seven weeks off and you are absolutely desperate to get back and start playing games again. The new ground looks really good and the surface looks excellent so it will be great to get out there in front of the fans.”